The 2006 Veggie Awards

The readers have spoken. Again.

The votes are in and have been counted, recounted, then counted once more. And unlike Florida (2000) or Ohio (2004), no politically appointed election officials had their biased hand in our results.

Doughnuts, handbags, face creams, cookbooks, makeup, faux meats, frozen treats…whatever it is you crave, it’s practically guaranteed that there’s a vegan version—or twelve. Add to that the restaurants, B & Bs, bakeries, non-profits, speakers and celebs who together have created a culture of compassionate living and it becomes clear that this movement has transformed into a powerful force for social change both on and off the marketplace.

This year, more than 10,000 of you voted in the 2006 Veggie Awards—the world’s largest survey of all things veg. Here you’ll find your favorites and discover some newbies, too, in our second annual Editors’ Picks. We invite you to rediscover what you already knew: that a vegetarian life is sweet—so let the celebration begin!

Drum roll, please!

Click here for readers' picks
Click here for editors' picks
Click here to see our prize winners

Readers’ Picks

FIVE-FOR-FIVE is Millennium Restaurant’s tally in the favorite restaurant category (Veggie Awards 2002–2006), though it had some serious competition this year. Since 1994, Millennium and executive chef Eric Tucker have invented and re-invented gourmet vegan cuisine, offering an ever-changing seasonal menu and plenty of special-occasion side dishes, including the popular Aphrodisiac Nights and Southern Comfort dinner—a VegNews staff favorite. Millennium is the place to go to impress the in-laws, though for dining simply, VN readers chose Subway for the second consecutive year. With nearly 27,000 locations in 85 countries and a menu that offers a Veggie Delight sandwich and salads made fresh to order, Subway clearly is the spot to stop before picking up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Beer—your pick for Favorite Adult Beverage. This multiple award-winning microbrew has been delighting imbibers for 25 years sans animal products. You can even find the tasty brew on the menu at Chicago Diner’s Sunday brunch, another repeat winner from 2005. You’ll also find hearty offerings like French Toast and Scrambled Tofu Deluxe, with prices starting at just $6.95. After brunch, relax with a warm cup of four-time champ Celestial Seasonings tea. With everything from blueberry to bilingual teas, CS offers nearly 100 flavors to fulfill your deepest fan-tea-sy.

MOST VEGETARIANS GREW UP eating the real thing, which might explain the boom in meat analogs. One such classic, Yves Veggie Dogs, has earned a special place in your fridge. For more than 20 years, Yves Veggie Cuisine has been engineering soy to create dogs, deli slices, breakfast patties and other comfort foods. If imitation is flattery, these babies make hot dogs blush a mean one. And speaking of going red, who hasn’t grown accustomed to the signature tomato-hued packaging of Boca Burgers? This meatless brand has bridged the boundary between healthy and traditional foods, evident in its ubiquity at ballparks, backyard barbecues and grocery stores. And Boca recently removed eggs and dairy from its Roasted Garlic Burger, Chik’n Nuggets and Patties. But sometimes a stir-fry or “chicken” salad wins out over the burger and fries set-up, so good thing Morningstar Meal Starters have gotten so popular. These steak and chicken stand-ins add umph, not to mention tons of protein, iron and vitamins. With all this faux meat in the mix, don’t forget about Nasoya Tofu. Nasoya blazed the way for soymilk back in 1979, delivering to stores in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Today, home cooks jazz meals up with tofu stir-fries, sauces and dressings.

IS IT JUST US, or do all vegans love dessert? When a sweet treat arrives at VegNews’ offices, time stands still. Deadlines might be looming and phones may well be ringing off the hook, but wait: a vegan triple chocolate cake with coconut frosting has just been delivered? Well, to heck with deadlines! The favorites in our four “sweet” categories are an elite bunch—all are previous Veggie Award winners. For two years running, Newman-O’s has taken the top spot for favorite cookie. Readers can’t get enough of these crème-filled wafer gems (we love the Mint Crèmes, which taste even better dunked in a cold glass of ricemilk). In need of a chocolate fix? Endangered Species has you covered. With 16 vegan varieties (readers swoon over the Dark Chocolate with Raspberries), each bar is a work of art: packages display—yes, you guessed it—an endangered species, with educational details on the animal tucked inside. For custom-baked, freshly made vegan goodies, it doesn’t get better than Sticky Fingers Bakery and Allison’s Gourmet. DC-based Sticky Fingers loosens belts in the Beltway with its Peanut Butter Fudge Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Chimp Bread, and famous Sticky Cinnamon Buns drizzled with creamy icing. Want scrumptious vegan treats fast? Order gourmet cookies, ultra-fudgy brownies, chocolate truffles or caramel candies from Allison’s Gourmet, an institution in the veg community. Place your order, and in no time you’ll receive a beautifully packaged box at your doorstep, confirming that today’s amazing array of dairy-free desserts can satisfy even the most serious sweet tooth..

SOMETIMES YOU just have to indulge. That first frosty spoonful of rice cream on a hot summer day, a warm mug of soymilk to ease you into slumber, or that greasy, gooey stretch of dairy-free cheese that makes a pizza feel complete. Luckily, vegans have their pick of products. Tofutti’s cheeses taste so authentic they can adorn pastas, nestle between two slices of bread and even top a pizza à la the pre-made Pizza Pizzaz. For dessert, experience Turtle Mountain’s Purely Decadent ice cream and you’ll agree that it rivals the creamy texture of any artery-clogging dairy concoction. Indulge in classics like Rocky Road and Mint Chocolate Chip, or get adventuresome with Swinging Anna Banana—walnuts and chocolate flakes tumbled together in a light banana flavored bit of heaven. Wash it all down with a frosty glass of Silk. The winning beverage’s long list of milk alternatives has wooed many a lacto-vegetarian to the vegan side. Their Very Vanilla, Mocha and Chai are delicious, but not even hardcore dairy addicts can resist the rich, creamy Chocolate.

WE REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL: feel clean, look good and eat well with a clear conscience. VegNews readers cast their votes, and Whole Foods Market’s dedication to animal welfare and quality, natural food makes them not only the grocery goliath it is today, but your favorite natural foods store. Come early and sample fresh fruits or grab a quick lunch from the take-out bar, and choose between Indian, Mexican, Chinese or traditional American comfort food. In-step with Whole Foods’ commitment to environmental sustainability and compassion for all living creatures, Seventh Generation, your favorite cleaning product, has catapulted above the competition to become the nation’s leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products. The company’s name reflects its philosophy, where, “in our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” Accountability extends to the wardrobe and nobody does compassionate couture like MooShoes, the first cruelty-free boutique of its kind in New York. The sibling-owned store continues to delight shoppers with its übercute shoes and accessories, as it has since 2001. And web junkies all know about the online one-stop shop, Vegan Essentials, which has made veg products accessible anywhere selling every creature-friendly creation imaginable—shoes, clothes, baby and animal care, cosmetics, skincare, food and vitamins.

IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE that counts, but looking good also matters. Aveda stole the election this year, nabbing awards for your favorite makeup and hair care products. This company really plays up its environmental ethics—right down to its earth-tone bottles—but don’t mistake that for greenwashing. Rather, Horst Rechelbacher launched Aveda in 1978 to provide green, botanical-based personal care. These mostly vegan products have not been tested on animals, and Aveda sets up partnerships with indigenous peoples from whom it acquires its materials. You’ll love the clean and eclectic roster of ingredients: mica, alfalfa powder, yucca, quinoa, licorice. And speaking of clean, Kiss My Face may have won the vote for favorite skin care because of its commitment to natural, organic and cruelty-free ingredients. Founded by two vegetarians in the early ’80s, it carries luxurious yet affordable skin food like the new Almost Butter Ultra Crème and Obsessively Organic Self Foaming Soap. Supplements play a role in beautification, too—and according to our most recent reader survey, more than 70 percent of you take them. VeganLife offers regulars like the multivitamin with extra B12 and also more unique products such as a Stress-X B-complex and Kelp Iodine Shakers. Find this surprisingly affordable line exclusively at Pangea.

SURE, VEGETARIANS HAVE a love affair with food, but who knew “bon voyage” ranked right up there with “bon appetit”? Yes, VN readers are veritable globetrotters, and your choice for favorite international veg-friendly metropolis is also the world’s priciest: London. Thanks to its substantial South Asian population, you can get your veg curry in a hurry, and eat it in historically rich surroundings. England’s capital also boasts meat-free B & Bs, health food stores galore, and an annual vegan festival. Cool Britannia, indeed. Across the pond you’ve named San Francisco your stateside herbivore’s paradise. The City by the Bay packs more than a dozen veg restaurants into its scenic 46 square miles and boasts hundreds of veg-friendly eateries, from Afghan and Burmese to Russian and West African. Another perennial favorite of veg vacationers is Farm Sanctuary’s B & B in Watkins Glen, NY. Nestled in the bucolic, verdant countryside of the Finger Lakes district, these cozy cabins offer a welcome respite from the daily grind. Bring your companion animals and enjoy a taste of the farm—and a delicious continental breakfast, too. Okay: If someone offered you an all-expense paid vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Italy! Lured by the cuisine, history, and olive-tree dotted panoramas, VN readers would pack their bags and say ciao in a second for a chance to tour bella Italia. Whether headed to Rome, San Francisco or London, savvy voyagers hit Happycow.net prior to take-off for the best in veg travel information. Loaded with details on everything from upscale eateries in Estonia to open air cafes in Cambodia, this thorough website delivers tasty options for every palate.

BEST KNOWN AS the controversial voice behind the world’s leading AR group, PETA prez Ingrid Newkirk can now add “Veggie-Award-winning speaker” to her resumé. Motivating, inspiring, and an outspoken voice for veganism, Newkirk never ceases to stir up hullabaloo, but always for a great cause: the animals. Stirring up a hullabaloo of another kind is Joaquin Phoenix. He’s hunky, he’s gifted and he’s one of us! The Academy-award nominated actor earned raves for his honest, riveting portrayal of music legend Johnny Cash, and demonstrates—film after film—how beguiling the combination of compassion and talent can be. Natalie Portman fans have spoken: the brown-eyed celluloid goddess is your pick for favorite female celebrity. Whether portraying a futuristic queen in Star Wars or shaving her head for V for Vendetta, the Harvard-educated actress gives her all in every performance. Next up: The Other Boleyn Girl and Goya’s Ghosts. Tabloid readers know this year hasn’t been Paul McCartney’s best, but taking the top prize in the Favorite Musician category could herald a wonderful new beginning for this deserving ex-Beatle. For more than 40 years, Sir Paul has shared his musical gifts while generously supporting veg- and animal-related causes. His latest offering, a classical collection called Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart), awaits fans in music stores now.

READERS MAY BE more interested in knowing who makes the best soymilk, veggie burger or vegan cheese, but when it comes to VegNews’ editors, it’s all about the final three questions on the ballot. We can’t wait to hear which issue was your favorite, and what columns and features rock your world. The rankings become our bible during editorial planning sessions to ensure we’re delivering exactly what you want. And this year, food and travel topped your list. Whether you’re looking to move to a progressive paradise or in search of a veg-friendly vacation spot, you named our Best Places To Live issue the one you couldn’t put down. And for good reason. This special anniversary edition was packed with the 12 hippest hometowns for vegetarians, ancient plant-based cultures, and, as always, a robust food section, which obviously keeps readers happy: you voted food and recipes as the features you love most. Inside every edition of VegNews, we give you recipes, taste tests, restaurant reviews, and a very special column that combines food with a hearty dose of humor. That column is I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan, and readers chose it as the overwhelming favorite in 2006. Penned by funny women Sarah Kramer and our own Jenna Humphrey, it’s filled with hysterical commentary, wit and fun food facts. Who knew that Cracker Jacks, bacon bits and Pepto-Bismol were vegan? Even VegNews’ editors can learn something new.

Objects in the Mirror are Closer Than They Appear
In the Readers’ division of this year’s Veggie Awards, several exceptionally close races made for a little unexpected excitement right up until the moment the polls closed. This year we’d like to honor a few of those nominees who sustained our curiosities—and obviously piqued yours.

The Spiral Diner finished a very strong second in both the Favorite Restaurant and Sunday Brunch categories. What makes this factoid ever more significant is that the establishment hails from the not-quite-veg mecca of Fort Worth, Texas. Right behind The Spiral Diner for fave brunch was San Francisco’s Herbivore, a previous recipient in this category, easily making Brunch the closest three-horseradish race of 2006.

Newman’s Own might think they’ve got the cookies, but both Trader Joe’s and the Alternative Baking Company want to be the sandwich to Newman’s crème. Meanwhile, Morningstar Farms is the tail that wags the vegan hot dog, while Gardenburger desires to be your faux meat.

The second closest trifecta was for your Favorite Speaker. Ingrid Newkirk just nipped author John Robbins and 2005 awardee Rep. Dennis Kucinich in this tight, three-person race. In the veg B & B category, honeymoon paradise The Stanford Inn might be playing bridesmaid this year, but it did catch the bouquet.

Last and certainly far from least, previous favorites Follow Your Heart (Non-dairy Cheese) and Pangea (Online Store) were supplanted this year, though both have many, many fans.

Considering all of the above, this year’s favorites should beware: You have some serious competition hot on your heels. Of course, since the Veggie Awards are a celebration of the best of what vegetarianism has to offer, in the hearts and minds of VegNews and all of its readers, any company doing it cruelty-free is a winner.

Click here to see the 2006 Veggie Awards Editor's picks!

Click here to order the current edition filled with all of the juicy insight to the 2006 Veggie Award winners.

Are you a Veggie Award winner? Click here for winner resources.